Genome-Wide Copy Number Variant and High-Throughput Transcriptomics Analyses of Placental Tissues Underscore Persisting Child Susceptibility in At-Risk Pregnancies Cleared in Standard Genetic Testing

Darina Czamara, Cristiana Cruceanu, Marius Lahti-Pulkkinen, Linda Dieckmann, Maik Ködel, Susann Sauer, Monika Rex-Haffner, Sara Sammallahti, Eero Kajantie, Hannele Laivuori, Jari Lahti, Katri Räikkönen, Elisabeth B. Binder

    Research output: Contribution to journalArticleScientificpeer-review

    1 Citation (Scopus)
    9 Downloads (Pure)

    Abstract

    Several studies have shown that children from pregnancies with estimated first-trimester risk based on fetal nuchal translucency thickness and abnormal maternal serum pregnancy protein and hormone levels maintain a higher likelihood of adverse outcomes, even if initial testing for known genetic conditions is negative. We used the Finnish InTraUterine cohort (ITU), which is a comprehensively characterized perinatal cohort consisting of 943 mothers and their babies followed throughout pregnancy and 18 months postnatally, including mothers shortlisted for prenatal genetic testing but cleared for major aneuploidies (cases: n = 544, 57.7%) and control pregnancies (n = 399, 42.3%). Using genome-wide genotyping and RNA sequencing of first-trimester and term placental tissue, combined with medical information from registry data and maternal self-report data, we investigated potential negative medical outcomes and genetic susceptibility to disease and their correlates in placenta gene expression. Case mothers did not present with higher levels of depression, perceived stress, or anxiety during pregnancy. Case children were significantly diagnosed more often with congenital malformations of the circulatory system (4.12 (95% CI [1.22–13.93]) higher hazard) and presented with significantly more copy number duplications as compared to controls (burden analysis, based on all copy number variants (CNVs) with at most 10% frequency, 823 called duplications in 297 cases versus 626 called duplications in 277 controls, p = 0.01). Fifteen genes showed differential gene expression (FDR < 0.1) in association with congenital malformations in first-trimester but not term placenta. These were significantly enriched for genes associated with placental dysfunction. In spite of normal routine follow-up prenatal testing results in early pregnancy, case children presented with an increased likelihood of negative outcomes, which should prompt vigilance in follow-up during pregnancy and after birth.

    Original languageEnglish
    Article number11448
    Number of pages16
    JournalInternational Journal of Molecular Sciences
    Volume23
    Issue number19
    DOIs
    Publication statusPublished - Sept 2022
    Publication typeA1 Journal article-refereed

    Keywords

    • chorionic villus sampling
    • congenital malformations
    • placenta
    • prenatal testing transcriptome sequencing

    Publication forum classification

    • Publication forum level 1

    ASJC Scopus subject areas

    • Catalysis
    • Molecular Biology
    • Spectroscopy
    • Computer Science Applications
    • Physical and Theoretical Chemistry
    • Organic Chemistry
    • Inorganic Chemistry

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